Retinoic Acid-Induced Neurogenesis using Mouse Embryonic Carcinoma Cells

Published: August 30, 2024

Abstract

Source: Leszczyński, P., et al.,  Neurogenesis Using P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells J. Vis. Exp. (2019)

This video demonstrates a simple technique for retinoic acid-induced neurogenesis in P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cells. Retinoic acid activates transcription factors and triggers gene expression for neuronal differentiation.

Protocol

1. Aggregate Generation

  1. Add 5 µL of RA (retinoic acid) (1 mM stock dissolved in 99.8% ethanol, stored at -20 °C) to the 10 mL of Differentiation Medium and mix well (final concentration of 0.5 µM RA).
    NOTE: RA is light-sensitive. A low concentration of ethanol does not affect cell differentiation.
  2. Add 10 mL of Differentiation Medium (with RA) to the 100 mm non-treated culture dish (dedicated to suspension culture).
  3. Seed the 1 x 106 cells in the 100 mm dish (Dish surface area 56.5 cm2).
  4. Put the flask with cells into the incubator at 37 °C and 5% CO2 for 2 days to promote aggregate formation.
  5. After 2 days, exchange the Differentiation Medium. Aspirate medium containing aggregates using a 10 mL pipette and transfer to a 15 mL tube at RT.
  6. Allow the aggregates to settle by gravity for 1.5 min at RT.
  7. Discard the supernatant.
  8. Add a fresh 10 mL of Differentiation Medium with 0.5 µM RA using a 10 mL serological pipette.
    CAUTION: Do not pipette the cell aggregates up and down.
  9. Seed the aggregates into a new 100 mm non-treated culture dish (dedicated to suspension culture).
  10. Place the plate in the incubator (at 37 °C and 5% CO2) for 2 days.

2. Aggregates Dissociation

  1. Aspirate the cell aggregates using a 10 mL pipette.
  2. Transfer the aggregates to a 15 mL tube. Allow the cell aggregates to settle by gravity for 1.5 min.
  3. Remove the supernatant.
  4. Wash the aggregates with DMEM alone (serum- and antibiotic-free).
  5. Allow the cell aggregates to settle by gravity sedimentation for 1.5 min at RT.
  6. Aspirate the supernatant and add 2 mL of trypsin-EDTA (0.25%).
  7. Place the cell aggregates into a water bath (37 °C) for 10 min. Agitate the aggregates gently every 2 min by tapping with a hand.
  8. Stop the trypsinization process by adding 4 mL of Maintenance Medium.
  9. Pipette the aggregates up and down 20 times using a 1 mL pipette.
  10. Centrifuge cells for 5 min at 200 x g and RT.
  11. Remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in 5 mL of Maintenance Medium.
  12. Determine the cell number with a cell counter.

3. Plating Cells

  1. Add 3 mL per well of Maintenance Medium to a 6-well plate.
  2. Seed cells in the 6-well culture plate at a density of 0.5 x 106/well.
  3. Incubate at 37 °C with 5% CO2 concentration.

Declarações

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Materials

DMEM high glucose (4.5 g/L) with L-glutamine Lonza BE12-604Q
Ethanol 99.8% Chempur CHEM*613964202
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) EURx E5050-03
Penicillin/Streptomycin 10K/10K Lonza DE17-602E
Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), 1x concentrated without calcium and magnesium ions Lonza BE17- 517Q
Retinoic acid Sigma- Aldrich R2625-50MG Dissolved in 99.8% ethanol; store in -20 °C up to 6 months
Trypsin 0.25% – EDTA in HBSS, without calcium and magnesium ions,with Phenol Red Biosera LM-T1720/500
1 mL Serological Pipettes Profilab 515.01
10 mL Serological Pipettes Profilab 515.1
100 mm dish dedicated for suspension culture Corning C351029
15 mL centrifuge tubes Sigma- Aldrich CLS430791-500EA
5 mL Serological Pipettes Profilab 515.05
6-well plate Corning CLS3516
Cell culture flasks, surface area 25 cm square Sigma- Aldrich CLS430639-200EA

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Citar este artigo
Retinoic Acid-Induced Neurogenesis using Mouse Embryonic Carcinoma Cells. J. Vis. Exp. (Pending Publication), e22531, doi: (2024).

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